Shear and stapling apparatus



Aug. 4, 1942.

'r. R. ROBINSON SHEAR AND STAPLING APPARATUS s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1939 A M g mm H 0 R m m m. 0. a

T. R. ROBINSON SHEAR AND STAPLING' APPmTUs Aug. 4, 1942.

Filed May 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INIVENTCID'I? Thomas fif/iabmson TTORNEY 4, 1942- T. R. ROBINSON r 2,291,650

I SHEAR AND STAPLING APPARATUS Filed May 29. 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet s 76 INVENTOBI Homes A. flabmson 45 I 49 ATTORNEY banding.

Patented Aug. 4, 1942 J UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- Thomas R. Robinson, Everett, Wash.

Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276,369

3 Claims. (Cl. 144-1) This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for forming-plywood and a general object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for laying up or forming plywood by which-waste of material is reduced to a minimum, production in the plant is speeded up, cost of manufacture is reduced, and a better and more uniform product is provided.

In the manufac'ture of plywood it has heretofore been common practice to lay up each panel of plywood separately by taking strips of cross banding stock (sometimes referred to as core stock) as they come from the glue rolls, placing the required number of layers of this cross banding stock between suitable face members to build up the number of plies desired and'then curing the glue in the panels. As the cross banding stock is usually of random widths, in laying up of separate plywood panels it is generally necessary to allow the cross banding to overhang the edges of the panels a substantial amount. This overhanging cross banding has glue on both faces thereof and the overhang is later trimmed away as waste. It is thus seen that this commonly employed method of laying up plywood results in a waste of cross banding stock and a waste of the glue on the trimmed away cross In accordance with this invention, I provide a method of and apparatus for laying up plywood in such a manner that the face members thereof are in line and in slightly spaced apart edge to edge relation and the cross banding stock is in a layer extending continuously over both the face members and thespaces between the face members at the time of laying up. Then the cross banding is severed at the spaces between the face members after the laying up is completed. This provides a method by which the plywood is laid up in continuous in line operation and the loss of cross banding stock and glue due tooverhang of cross banding is reduced to a. minimum.

Another object of this invention is to provide .laid up panels of plywood which can be handled before curing of the glue .without danger of displacing the plies thereof. Another object is to pass fastener means through portions of the panels, which will be removed in the later trimming operation, to temporarily secure the several plies of apanel together prior to the curing of the glue in the panels.

Another object is to provide an efficient method of and means for coordinating the laying up of the labor, the veneer presses, and the other machinery used.

Another object is to provide novel and ethcient means for cutting the cross banding between adjacent laid up plywood panels and for stapling or otherwise fastening together the plies of the laid up panels while they are in motion.

The above mentioned general objects. of my invention, together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the devices illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation, with parts in section and parts broken away, showing apparatus of preferred form for carrying out this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of apparatus shown in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

tion and, partly in section substantially on.

broken line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view showing parts of a link belt control means and devices associated'therewith;

Fig. 'l.is a fragmentary detached side elevation showing parts of the mechanism connected I with the link belt control means;

plywood, composed of different numbers of plies,

Fig. 8 is a detached fragmentary view partly in plan and partly in section showing the grooved glue roll around which flexible conveyor means pass;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of a 'modified form of cut off and stapling machine mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view, partly in plan and partly in section and taken substantially on broken line lll--I 0 of Fig. 9, showing the apparatus in Fig. 9 and showing somewhat diagrammatically certain electrical and mechanical control devices not shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of cut off. means Fig. 12' is a plan view of the devices shown in Fig. 11 with parts thereof broken away; and

. ing up of the plywood is started and a substantially horizontal. portion 23 toward the other end where the laying up of the plywood is completed.

A pair of glue spreading rolls 24 and 25 are provided near the head end of the conveyor 20.

These glue spreading rolls 24 and 25 are preferably positioned above .the head end of the conveyor 20, as shown in Fig. 1, and are adapted to have cross banding stock 26 passed therebetween for the purpose of spreading glue evenly on both sides of this cross banding stock' 28. The cross banding stock is the stock positioned between two face members 21 and 22 of the plywood with its grain extending at right angles to the grain oi the face members 21 and 28.

The lower glue roll 2' operates with a portion of its periphery in a glue. receptacle 29 and another glue receptacle 20 is provided in connection withthe upper glue roll 24. The conventionalparts of the glue spreading means not If the random width pieces of cross banding stock have been'edge glued together to form a continuous strip, the cross banding stock may be directly delivered on thef'low'e'r face members .21.

The lower face members '21 are placedon the portion 22 of the conveyor 20 in line and in v slightly spaced apart edge to edge relation, so as to leave a relatively narrow space between each two adjacent face members, said space 24 being relatively narrow so that waste is reduced to a minimum. The savings in cross banding stock and glue thereon by the use of.my invention are readily apparent as the amount of cross banding stock between face members may be reduced to a minimum (as about two inches) while in prior art practices the overhang of the cross banding stock was often twelveinches or more.

The cross banding 26 is laid continuously over the face members 21 and across the spaces between adjacent face members 21.

After the cross banding 26.1s laid on the lower face members 21, upper face members 26 corresponding in size and shape to the lower face of the spaces 34 between adjacent face members, it will make no difference in the method or in here involved are illustrated somewhatdiagrammatically and not described. The lower glue roll 25 has annular grooves 21 in the peripheral portion thereof, see Fig. 8, for the reception of flexible endless conveyor members 22. The conveyor-members 22 pass around the lower glue roll 25 in the grooves II and are further supconveyor members for transporting the cross the operation of the apparatus or in the resulting product.

After the laying upof the panels is completed, said panels pass a fastener applying and cut off station at which securing means, such as staples,

, are passed through the laid'up panels adjacent ported on other rollers 23 to provide glue coated banding stock from the glue rolls to a location with the cross banding and their contact area on the cross bandingstock is relatively small,

. thereby insuring uniform distribution of. glue on the cross banding stock including the portions contacting the 'ponveyor members 32.

If the crossfbanding stock comprises a plurality .of random width pieces, the conveyor members 22 may deliver thecross banding stock directly =on low'e'i' facemembers 21. In such case the edges of the face members andthe cross banding between adjacent panels is severed. These securing means are for the purpose of securing the piles of the laid up panels against relative movement while they are being handled and before the glue has been cured. The securing means is trimmed away when the panels are trimmed after curing of the glue.

One form of cut off and stapling means is shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive. 'I'hismeans comprises upright frame members 35 supported on horizontal frame bars 26 that are provided at" the sides of the conveyor 20 and extend beyond the end of the conveyor 20. Two of the upright frame members 25 are provided at each side of an operator is preferably employedto' properly position this cross banding on the lower face members.

Also standard glue rolls, as commonly used, may be employed and positioned td-Ideliver pieces of glue coated cross banding stock-toward an;

operator In such case the cross banding stock will pass longitudinally through the glue rolls as distinguished from the transverse travel of around discs 42. trically mounted on a common crossshaft 43 by outwardly protruding pins 39 with the upper end portions of upright connecting rods 40. The lower end portions of the connecting rods 40 are connected with circular bands ll that extend The two discs 42 are eccenand are secured in corresponding angular positions ongsaid shaft 62. Obviously rotation of the shaft dfwillmove the connecting rods 40 longitudinally' and at the same time .will. impart a swinging motion thereto. The longitudinal movement of the rods 40 will move a knife means therewith and will also-move the cross bar It positionfthe piecesof glue coated cross banding stock on "the lower face members 21.

up'and down in the slots 31. and the swinging movement of saidrods 40 will impart aback and forth motion to a knife, stapler, and die block means ashereinafter set forth,

The knife means comprises a knife carrying bar 44 that extends crosswise of the machine and has its two end portions secured to the respective connecting rods 40, whereby the knife means will be moved vertically and swingingly with said. connecting rods. A knife 45 is secured to the bar 44 and provided with a cutting edge 45 for clipping the cross banding stock. A horizontal reinforcing rib 41 is provided on one side of the knife carrying bar 44 to increase the strength and rigidity of said bar and slots 45 are provided in said rib 41 for purposes hereinafter explained.

-A die block 49 extends crosswise of the machine. The two end portions of the die block 49 rest on the horizontal frame bars 35 at the sides of the machine and preferably are provided with.

guide members 55 which operate in grooves in the frame bars 35. Preferably the end portions of the die block, which rest on the frame bars 35, are flat on the bottom side and the bottom portion of said die block is of heavier construction throughout the remainder of its length to provide rigidity. The upper side of the die block is substantially flat and is disposed sub stantially in the plane of the conveyor means so that plywood carried on the conveyor ,means 20 will be passed over this die block. Obviously replaceable inserts of well known form, not

hereinshown, may be provided in this die block, if desired-against which the knife and stapling tools may operate. The lower portions of the upright frame members are spaced apart far enough to provide working clearance for the endsof the die block. Two rollers 52 are provided in transversely spaced apart relation on each end portion of the die block 49 and the respective connecting rods 49 pass between the rollers 52 and engage therewith in such a manner that the transverse movement of the connecting'rods 45 will impart a reciprocatory movement to the die block 49. When the die block 45 is being moved in one direction it will move with the plywood and will support the plywood during the cutting and stapling operation.

A bridge member comprising two transversely spaced apart bars 53,'see Figs. 3, 4 and 5, is positioned invertically spaced relation above the v upper side of the die block 49, see Fig. 5, and is secured to the die block 49 by foot portions 54 that are provided at each end of the bridge memher and rest on and are secured to the die block 49. This leavesa space 54' between the bars 53 of the bridge member and the die block 49 through which the plywood passes. The bars 53 serve as supports for a plurality of stapling devices 55. As these stapling devices are of a well known stardard form of construction readily obtainable on the market, they are herein shown diagrammatically and not described in detail.

The stapling devices 55 are operated by plunger members 55 that are connected with the vertically reciprocable cross bar 38. The plunger members 55 on one side of the knife carrying bar 44 operate through the slots 45. Preferably four stapling devices 55 are provided and these devices are positioned so that they will drive two staples or fasteners in each end portion of each of 'two adjacent panels during eachcycle of operation. This provides for the insertion of mechanical fastening means ineach panel at four locations.

Obviously a greater or less number 'of the stapling devices 55 may be used-if desired. Also to provide for stapling panels of non-uniform width a plurality of the slots 45 may be provided in rib 41 through which the plungers 55 at one side of the knife carrying bar 44 may operate.

When the laid upplywood panels arrive at the stapling and cutting location, the glue is in an uncured state and the plies of the panels are readily movable relative to each other. Passing staples or fasteners through the face members and cross banding at this location secures the plies of the panels together so that they cannot subsequently slipor shift relative to eachother while they are being handled and before the glue has been cured.

Preferably the upper end portion of each plunger 55 passes through a hole in a cross member 51 that is secured by means 55 to the reciprocable cross bar 35. A nut 59 is provided on each plunger 55 above'the, cross member 51. A

' compressionspring 55 is provided on each plunger 55 below the cross member 51 with the upper end thereof in engagement with the cross member 51 and the lower end thereof resting 'on a nut 5| on the'plunger. When the bar 38 is moved upwardly the plungers 55 will be elevated thereby. When the bar 38 is moved downwardly, a force will be yieldingly exerted on the plungers. 55 through the springs 50 to operate the stapling devices. The springs 59 thus serve to permit fur-.

' ther downward movement of the connecting rods 45 after the stapling devices have contacted the plywood, thus making it possible to staple plywood of different thicknesses without adjusting the stapling device operating means and also reducing the danger of straining or damaging parts of the stapling devices.

Devices are provided for imparting one cycle of operation to the stapling and cut off means during the time the portions of the cross banding stock, which extend across the space between the face members of adjacent plywood panels, are passing under the knife 45. This is accomplished by connecting the cross shaft 45 with driving means by which the power to drive the shaft 43 is transmitted through a single revolution clutch so that the shaft 43 will be advanced one complete revolution at each cycle of operation. As single revolution clutches are' well known pieces of mechanism readily obtainable on the market, and

as no particular type thereof is necessary herein,

the single revolution clutch herein is diagrammatically shown and the details thereof are not described. Manually controlled means are illustrated in Figs. 2, 6 and 7 for starting the operation of the single revolution clutch.

Referring to Figs. 1 to '7, the cross shaft 43 is connected with a single revolution clutch 52 to which power is supplied by a continuously driven shaft 53. Ishow the shaft connected by driv .ing means l5 with a power transmission means I1 that is driven by a motor l5. Also I show driving means l5 connecting the shaft 55 with the shaft Is for driving the conveyor 20 and show driving means l4 connecting shaft l9 with a shaft 11 for driving discharge conveyor means 15 of a form hereinafter described. Operation of the;

single revolution clutch 52 is controlled by a lever 54 connected by a link 55 with a lever 55 on'a shaft 51. The shaft 51 is adapted to be oscillated in one direction by a lever. that is'connected by a link 55 with anotherlever 15. The lever 15 is'mounted on a pivot "and positioned in substantial alignment with the knife 45 and alongside a movable pm type endless link belt 12 which serves as a controller. The pivot 1| is preferably adjustably mounted to permit compensation for delay in operation of the single revolution clutch and parts connected therewith.

The pins 18, that connect together the links of the link belt 12, are of greater length than thethickness of the link belt and are slidable transversely through the links of said link belt as best illustrated in Fig. 6. A cam member 14, positioned adjacent the inner side of the link belt 12, engages with any of the movable pins 13 which have been pushed inwardly, and moves ,said pins outwardly as respects the link belt 12 after the pins have operated the lever 10. Preferably a hold down member 14' is provided to resist any tendency of link belt 12 to move upwardly when a pin 13 thereof encounters lever 18. After a plywood panel has been laid up, an operator pushe one of the pins 13 inwardly at a location in line with the space between the face members of two adjacent plywood panels.

The link belt 12 travels at the same speed as the conveyor 20 and the pin 13' thus pushed inwardly will engage with the lever and oscillate the shaft 61 and engage the single revolution clutch 52 and thereby operate the knife 45 just as the cros banding, which extends across the space 34 between the edges of adjacent face members of the plywood, is positioned under the knife 45. This will operate the knife 45 to cut the cross banding between the two adjacent plywood panels. and'at the same time operate the stapling devices 55 to drive staples through the superposed plie of each of two adjacent panels. spring will return the shaft 61 and parts connected therewith to the inoperative position as soon as the pin 13 releases the lever 10, and the single revolution clutch 62 will only impart one revolution to thescross shaft 43 each time it is operated. A

As alternatives for ther'nanually controlledy up panels pass onto discharge conveyor means 1 preferably composed of a plurality of bait type conveyors 18. The end portions of the conveyors 16, adjacent the cut ofl and stapling devices, preferably are not connected with each other, but the other end portions of said conveyors 15 preferably are all connected .with the conveyorv 84.

connected therewith by a lever 82 and piston rod 83.

Inclined return conveyor means 84 is posi tioned beneath the conveyor means 15 and connects with a substantially horizontal return con- .veyor 85. The higher end 'of the inclined returnconveyor means 84 is connected with a shaft 88 that is preferably positioned just in front of and slightly lower than the shaft 11 of the conveyor means 15. The conveyors 84 and 85 are driven in the direction indicated by 'the arrows in Fig. 1 by any suitable driving means such as driving means I28, Fig. 1, connected to. any suitable source of power (not shown). higher speed than the conveyors 20 and 18 to quickly remove panels that are being transferred from conveyor means 15 to inclined return conveyor means 84. The conveyor members 15 are not connected by any cross members except the shaft TI and said members 15 are transversely offset relative to the traveling belts of the inclined return conveyor 84. This makes it possible to lower the conveyor members ,16 below the plane of the top of the conveyor 84 to transfer panels from the conveyor members 15 to the Positioning the shaft 85 a short distance inwardly from, and a short distance below, the plane of the shaft 11, and using rollers or sheaves of the same size on these two shafts keeps the conveyor 84 below and clear of the plywood panels when the conveyor members 18 are horizontal, and'leaves the conveyor 84 above the plane of the conveyor members 18 throughout its entire length when the conveyor members 15 are lowered into the dotted line position shown in Fig. l. The belts of these two conveyors travel in opposite directions and the arrangement of shafts 85 and TI, shown in'Fig. 1, avoid bringing the panels into contact with conveyor belts which are moving in directions opposite to the direction of movement of the panels.

In the operation of the devices in Figs. 1 to 8, the conveyors operatepontinuously. An operator positioned near the head portion 22 of conveyor 20 places lower face members 21 on said conveyor one after another in line and in spaced apart edge to edge relation. As' these lower face members travel past the delivery end of the conveyor members 32, the glue coated cross banding;-

26 is either delivered directly onto the lower face member'- 21 or is placed by an operator on said face'member 2'1. This cross banding extends crosswise of the face members and is continuous so that it covers the face members and extends across the spaces between the face. members.

same driven shaft 71. When the discharge conveyor members I5 are in a horizontal position,

*Aftel' the cross banding has been placed, another operator places upper face members 28 on top of the cross banding in substantial registration they are operable to deliver laid up plyw qd panwith the lower face members. After the lower els onto any suitable transfer means by\which said panels may be transported to press means for curing the glue.

The'conveyor members 15- are supported by suitable meanswhich permits them to be lowered into an inclined position to transfer laid up panels, of plywood to another conveyor by which said panels are returned to the head of the assembly line'for the purpose of having more plies added thereto. I have shown each conveyor member 18 supported by a link 18 that is connected with a lever 19 on a shaft 83. The shaft is adapted to be oscillated by any suitable .means'as pneumatic'cylinder and piston means '73 conveyors 84 and 85 by which they will be res fa'ce members are properly positioned, the pins 13 of the link belt 12, which are positioned opposite the spaces between the face members, are pushed devices to sever the cross banding between the panels and drive staples in the panels. If more plies are to be added to the panels, an operator will actuate the cylinder and piston means 8| at the proper time to: lower the conveyor means 18 and transfer the laid, up panels to the return Conveyors 84 and 85 are driven at a turned to the head of .the assembly line. The provision of the return conveyors 84 and 85 together with means for transferring the laid up panels thereto, makes possible the production of plywood panels of three plies or of more than three plies on the same assembly line and with the same apparatus and same number of operators without any loss in efliciency.

Particularly in panels which are to be subjected to a hot press, two three ply panels may be produced during the same period as a five 'ply panel on the conveyor. As the hot presses are now commonly used, one opening or compartment in the presses isloaded with either two three ply panels or one five ply panel. Thus the production of the conveyor line may be kept in synchronism with the needs of the hot presses.

In Figs. 9 and I have shown alternative cut off, staple device and conveyor drive means which differs from the cut off, staple device and con-' veyor drive means shown in Figs. l, to '7 to the extentthat the conveyors and plywood thereon are stopped and remain immovable during the. cutting off and stapling operations. In said Figs. 9 and 10 substantially all parts of the knife and staple device and conveyor devices are similar to those shown in Figs. 1 to 7 except that the knife is secured to the cross bar 38 instead of tothe connecting rods' 48, bearing slots 31 for knife carrying bar 44 are made longer by changing the shape of frame members 35, the rollers 52 on theend portions of the die block 49 are omitted, and the die block 49 is fixedly secured to the frame bars 36, by means such as bolts 81. All parts in Figs. 9 and .10 which are similar to those in Figs. 1 to"? are correspondingly numbered and are not herein further described in detail.

The driving and controlmeans shown in Figs. 9 and 10 differ from those previously described and are as follows; The lever 64 of the single revolution clutch 62 is conected by the link 65 with the plunger 88 of a solenoid 88 which is connected by ,conductors 89 with a source of energy 98. A normally open switch 9|, controlled by a retarded relay 92, is interposed in the conductors 89 to open and close the circuit to the solenoid 88. A light responsive cell 93, of

a form well known and commonly termed an electric eye, is positioned so that it will be subjected to reflected light from a source of light 93 directed against one side of the traveling plywood. The cross banding, being coated with operation.

tioned'for cutting and fastening. Also-this retarded relay will hold the switch 9I closed until after the cut off and stapling devices have operated, after which it will allow the switch 9| to open and the spring I5 will return the several parts .to the position shown inFig. 10. thus engaging the clutch 96 and starting the conveyors. The clutch 96 is connected with the plunger 88 of solenoid 88 by a link 98 and bell crank shifter lever 99 which is fulcrumed on pivot I88.

The apparatus shown in Figs. 9 and 10 operates in substantially the same manner as the previously described devices except that the die block, stapling devices and knife do not move transversely and the plywood is stopped and held stationary during each cutting and fastening Furthermore, in said Figs. 9 and 10, I have illustrated a control means actuated by the cross banding stock between two adjacent panels as distinguished from the manually controlled the peripheral portion of the die roll substantially tangent to the plane of the conveyors. A rotary knife I82 is mounted in suitable rotary knife holder means I83 above the plane of the conveyors and directly abov the die roll I8I.

Preferably-the die roll is driven at a peripheral speedequal to the speed of travel of the con-- veyors. 28 and I1 by driving means such as a friction belt I84 positioned in contact with the die roll and supportedon sheaves I85, I86, I 01 and I88. Sheave I86 is driven by gear wheels I89 from shaft II8. shaft I9 by belt means III operating on sheaves H2 and H3. The several sheaves and 'gear wheels have the proper gear ratio to drive the belt- I84 at the same speed as the conveyors 28 and I6 and this imparts to roll IN a peripheral glue, will reflect a'diiferent amount of light than the face members. This contrast may be accentuated by using a coloring matter in the glue. This diflerence in the. light reflecting qualities of the face members and cross banding is suflicient to operate the light responsive cell 93 and said cell 93 will close a circuit through conductors 95 and source of energy 94 to the relay 92 when the cell 93 is subjected to the reflection of light from the cross banding and will open said circuit at all other times; The Operation of relay 92 closes the circuit to the solenoid 88 eachtime a space between the plywood face members passes the cell 93. The operation of solenoid 88 starts speed equal to the lineal speed of the conveyors.

Preferably sheave I8! is adjustable so as to serve as a tightener for belt I84. The rotary knife holder I83 is driven through a. single revolution clutch 62 which will rotate said knife holder at predetermined intervals through cutting cycles of one complete revolution each. Normally the knife I82 will be positioned clear of the roll I8I as shown by full lines in Fig. 11. .When rotated it will be moved in the same direction as the ma,

terial to-be cut and in the course Of its move-- ment will mak cutting engagement with the moving roll I8I', as shown by dotted lines in Fig.

the operation of a single revolution clutch 62 and at the same time disconnects a clutch 96 throu h which power to drive the conveyors is transmitted. to the shaft I9.. The retarded relay does not necessarily close the switch 9I the instant the cell- 93 operates, but said relay will be timed to close the switch 9| and stop the conveyors and.

start the operation of the cut off and stapling means at the time the plywood is properly posistapler and cut off means by mechanical devices positioned to contact the moving plywood, said mechanical devices being actuated by the-surface contour of the laid up plywood at the locations where the face members of the panels are spaced apart'and the cross banding stock extends across these spaces. In said Fig. .13, .III is 'a'irame member that is pivoted for swinging movement Shaft H8 is driven from hook member movement by means such as a slot I22 in the hook on a fixed pivot II which is positioned adjacent one end portion of the frame H4. The other end portionof the frame member I is yieldingly supported on a spring H0. The spring H8 is positioned on a bolt I I1 which extends through a fixed frame lug H8 and is provided with'nuts H1. The spring IIG yieldingly urges th movable end portion of the frame member 4 upwardly but permits said movable end portion of' said frame memberto be moved downwardly by pressure exerted against the frame member. The bolt II1 limits the upward movement of the 'movable end portion of th frame member H4.

The frame member H4 is positioned a short member through which extends a transverse pin I23 which is rigid with the framemember II4. A tensionspring I24 connects the hook member II9 with .the frame member H4 and urges the hook member toward the pivoted end of the frame member 4., i

Roller means I25 is rotatably mounted on the movable end portion of the frame member II4 beyond the catch portion I20 01 thehook H9 and at the side of the hook H9. Only one roller is shown but obviously more than one roller may be provided.

Electric switch means is connected with the hook member H9 in such a manner as to be actuatecl by longitudinal movement of th hook member H9 relative to the housing I. This electric switch means may consist of a spring switch terminal I26 mounted on th housing H4 and adapted to be electrically contacted by another spring switch terminal I21 which is carried by th hook member Ill. The terminals I 26 and I21 are connected with electrical conductors, such as the electrical conductors 95 of Fig. 10, so that the operation of stapling and cut off means is controlled by the opening and closing of the circuit controlled by these terminals.

In the operation of the devices shown in Fig. 13, the laid up plywood will travel in the direction indicated by the arrows 1 The roller I25 will roll on the lower surface ofthe plywood and the tip of the catch portion I20. of the hook H9 will be approximately flush with the portion of the roller that engages the plywood but to the left, as respects the showing in Fig. 13, 'of the point of engagement of the roller with the plywood. When a space between the edges of adjacent face members 21 moves into registration with the catch portion I20 of.the hook and'the roller I25, the catch portion I20 of the hook and the roller I25 will drop into this space and will engage with the cross bandingstock 28 that extends across such space as shown in Fig. 13. As the plywood continues to move to the right from the position shown in Fig. 13, the edgeportion I2I of a lower face member 21 will engage with the catch portion- I20 of the hook member II! and move such hook member H9 toward the roller I25. Movement of hook member III toward roller I25 will close the switch formed by terminals I20 and I21. Also movement of the plywood to the right from the position shown in Fig. 13 will cause the shoulder I2I formed by the edge portion of a lower face member 21 to engage with the roller I25 and depress the movable end portion of the frame member I I4 enough to disengage the catch member I20 from the shoulder I2I. disengagement of the catch member will occur after the switch I20-I21 has been closed and upon such disengagement of said catch member the spring I24 will return the hook I I9 to the position shown in Fig. 13 and open the switch I26-'-I21. The spring I24 provides a resiliency which avoids shock when the shoulder I2I encounters the catch portion I20 and this insures that the laid up panels will not be displaced relative to each other.

As the switch terminals I28-I21 are connected with the conductors 95 which supply energy to the retarded relay 94 of Fig. 10, it will be ap-' parent that each closing of the switch formed by terminals I20-I21 will impart a cycle of operation to the stapler and cut offrneans. Also it will be apparent that the retarded relay may be timed so as to cause successive cycles of operation to be carried out at the proper time for stapling and cutting off the laid up plywood stock.

Summarizing the mode of operation of my invention, the lower face members 21 are placed in faces. I have illustrated glue rolls for applying liquid glue to both faces of-the cross banding i stock. However, it is to be understood that any otherwell known manner of placing glue on both faces of the cross banding stock may be employed. For example, if dry powdered glueis to be used, the same may bespread on the upper surface of the lower face members 21 and then on the upper surface of the cross banding stock 20. Also, film glue may be used and -a film of glue placed on the upper surface of each lower face member 21 and other films of glue placed on the upper surface of the cross banding stock 20. The crops-banding stock may be fed as a continuous s directly onto the lower face members 21 or the same maysbe fed as random width pieces of cross banding stock and positioned in edge to edge adjoining relation On the lower'face,

members 21. In the event that wet. glue is to beused, I prefer to feed the cross banding stock in a direction transverse of the grain thereof and by means of the flexible conveyors 32 shown in Fig. 1. In this way the glue'coated cross banding stock, whether in random width pieces or as a. continuous sheet, may be transported without wiping of the glue from the surfaces of the cross banding material. The cross banding stock is placed on the lower face members and with the cross banding stock extending continuously over both the lower face members and'the As'illustrative of mechanical means of alongside of and out of the path of travel of said Preferably simultaneously with the mechanical knife member movable with said connecting-rod,

' whereby the up and down and forward and back movements of said connecting rod are imparted to the knife member to move the same toward securing together step, I employ means to sever 5 and away from and forward and back with said the cross banding extending between two face members which are spaced apart in edge to edge relation. The means for severing the cross banding stock is preferablyoperable while the stock.

die member.

2. Apparatus .of the class described comprising a travelling conveyor for continuously moving sheet material; a die memberpositioned to en-' is in motion. I have illustrated a rotary cutting 10 gage one side of the moving material and mountknife in Figs. 11 and '12, as well as the reciprocable cutting knife in Figs. 1 to 8,-which will accomplish such purpose. However; where efllciency may be somewhat sacrificed, the cuttin device illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 may be em- 5 9. crank armmounted in vertical spaced rela ployed. In such structure the panels are stopped during the stapling and severing operation. Also I have illustrated manual and automatic means for controlling the operation of the stapling and severing means.

directly to a transfer means for either cold processing orhot processing. Should multiple ply panels, other than three ply panels, be desired, the panels may be returned one or more times to the head of the assembly line to form panels, as five ply, seven, ply, etc. Preferably the return mechanism for returning the panels to :the

disclosed. This for the reason that such permits most efficient use of men, material and devices. Also where the conveyor system is synchronized iwith hot press devices, I may produce one five Ply panel during the same interval of time as required to produce two three ply panels, thus keeping the production of the conveyor line positively synchronized with the needs of the hot plate press or Presses.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms.

I dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

I claim: -l. Apparatus of the class described comprising Fa travelling conveyor for continuously moving sheet material; a die member positioned to engage one side of the moving material and mounted for reciprocating movement in a plane parallel to the conveyor and movable in one direction of .travel substantially synchronously with the travelling conveyor and the sheet material thereon; a crank arm mounted in vertical spaced relation to said conveyor; a slide member mounted in vertical spaced relation to said conveyor and with the conveyor travelling in a plane vertically intermediate said. crank arm and said slide member; a connecting rodmovable in a plane mediate its length with said die member; and a nected intermediate its length with said die membet; a knife member movable with said connected for reciprocating movement in a plane parallel to the conveyor-and'movable in one direction of travel substantially synchronously with the travelling conveyor and the sheet material thereon;

2 ber; 'a' connecting rod movable in a plane along- After the three ply panels have been formed in the manner just set forth, they may be delivered side of and out of the path of travel of said conveyor and connected at its ends to said slide and said crank arm and slidably connected interme- I member to move the same toward and .away' from head -of the assembly line is in the form herein 30 and forward and back with said die member.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a travelling conveyor for continuously moving sheet material; a die member positioned to engage one side of the moving material an'd'mountslide member; a connecting rod movable in a. plane alongside of and out of the path of travel of said conveyor and connected at its ends to said slide and said crank arm and slidably coningrod, whereby the up and down and forward and back movements of said connecting rod are imparted to the knife member to move the same toward and away from and forward and back with said die member; and'stapling devices operating means connected with said connecting rod, whereby said die member functions as a support for both said knife member and said stapling 'devices' and moves synchronously therewith.

. HO AS E. ROBINSON. 

